Environment-Assisted Degradation of the Bond between Steel and Carbon-Fiber-Reinforced Polymer
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 26, Issue 9
Abstract
This paper summarizes the environmentally assisted degradation of the bond between steel and carbon fiber–reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites through analysis of the mechanical performance of loaded and unloaded steel/CFRP double strap joints exposed to various harsh environments such as elevated temperatures, seawater, cyclic temperature and humidity, and ultraviolet (UV) radiation. It was found that both joint stiffness and strength significantly decreased by up to 80% when tested at elevated temperatures near to or greater than of the adhesive used. The mechanical properties reduced by about 20% when exposed to seawater for up to 1 year. Although no significant reduction in stiffness and strength were found when the unloaded joints were exposed to cyclic temperature between 20 and 50°C with the added presence of humidity, the loaded joints catastrophically failed during the exposure, showing that the combination of load, temperature, and moisture was the most critical scenario. In addition, UV exposure also led to a decrease in strength but an increase in stiffness for the unloaded joints, caused by the postcuring with the heat supplied by the UV rays.
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Acknowledgments
The authors wish to acknowledge Mr. Long Goh and Mr. Kevin Nievaart for their assistance in conducting the experiments at the Monash University Civil Engineering Laboratory. Thanks are also due to Dr. Gerald Ecclest of the CSIRO, Melbourne, who provided access to the UV exposure facilities and Amroy Europe Oy, Finland, for the supply of the epoxy materials. Financial support was received from the Australian Research Council and Monash University. The first author, Dr. Yu Bai, is the recipient of the Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Researcher Award.
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Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 26 • Issue 9 • September 2014
Copyright
© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jun 13, 2013
Accepted: Oct 3, 2013
Published online: Oct 5, 2013
Published in print: Sep 1, 2014
Discussion open until: Oct 13, 2014
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